Damage to our 3455SA

[Phyllen]

We took off from Louisiana Saturday morning after tending to Len's Mom almost fulltime since 2/1 when we started fulltime RVing. We really needed and wanted to get on with our lives.

We got to Mt. Pleasant TX and pulled in to get diesel. The lanes were narrow between pumps. Once got in there, found they were out of diesel. Len was watching on the left when he pulled out and turned. I was in the ladies room. He hit the barrier on the right tearing our back wall away from the side.

The rig is in Hooks TX at a Montana dealer. Will take two weeks to gets parts from Indiana, at least another week to repair. We are living out of our truck, staying in Motels. We are currently in Mitchell SD. We get our SD drivers license tomorrow then head back to TX.

Manager says he can seal up the rig and we can live in it until parts come in. Probably will do that. There is a campground/fairground nearby over in Texarkana. Once it goes for repair, back to Louisiana or a motel.

Check out damage on www.theeastsheadwest.blogspot.com

It's been one thing after another ever since we decided to fulltime. Getting frustrated.

[Bill-N-Donna]

Ouch!! I can feel the pain. Sorry for the unfortunate mishap. It does sound like you guys got a grip on things pretty well though. Things like that can happen so easily & quickly. Tail swing sure can be a sneaky problem.

[8.1al]

I know this won't make you feel any better but you have lots of company, we've been there, done that when our trailer was only a month old, had to replace the whole rear. Don't be discouraged, things will get better

[Jay Bird]

Accidents can happen to any of us. Sorry to see this happen. We sincerely hope it want take the dealer to long to get the parts and repair your rig. We also hope things improve for you so you can begin to enjoy fulltiming. Pulling into service stations with narrow lanes and almost running out of fuel once is what led me to go to an F350 and an aux fuel tank. Good luck and God Bless

George and Rosetta

[H. John Kohl]

So sorry for you accident. Best of luck with a speedy and quality repair.

[Phyllen]

Ouch! Today we contacted the shop where we took the rig in Texas. Seems the service tech is losing his job there. Some kind to personal situation. They say he was the best and have noone else to do it. So - tomorrow we get busy on the phone trying to find another shop within a reasonable distance. This living out of the truck is NO FUN!

[bob n pam]

It's too bad you're not near Middlebury, IN. Fox RV Repair there does a great job. Good luck on finding a shop and just hang in there. It really will get better.

[Mudchief]

Sorry that happen but don't let it get you down.

[mtheo]

Sorry about your trailer.
Is that a bike or a motorcycle on back.

[melnjoy]

Sorry to here you had a problem. It can be held together with duct tape. I have seen it done before isn't that right Sponge Bob
Its all part of the great adventure.
Mel
Sorry Bob had to

[rames14]

Sorry for your pain but it sounds like you have a can-do attitude. That makes all the difference. Best of luck for speedy repairs.

[footloose]

When we started off full-timing we had never pulled a 5th wheel before. The salesman said, "Don't worry, it turns on a dime and tracks perfectly after the truck." Our first stop was to friends who had a narrow gate. You see where I'm going. I didn't even get out to watch (as it tracks perfectly, right?). Well, we sliced the whole side of the 5er. We were devastated. Our new home was ruined. We took it back for repairs, and 2 weeks later returned to "the gate." This time we watched carefully and made it through. Then El Nino hit and where we were parked turned to a muddy pit. We were hopelessly stuck. It rained and rained and rained. We wondered what had we done. Finally a month later we started out -- and it's been fun ever since. That was 16 years ago. We laugh about it now and can't believe it was that long ago. Just stick with it. Times are hard now for you, but they will get better. I guarantee it.
Sharon

[Trailer Trash 2]

Wow !!! thats too bad, but it can be fixed and nobody was hurt, except your pride and wallet. I think quite a few of us here and elsewhere have had that very close or have it happen, to our Montys accident. but it will turn out good, the RV shop is working with you which helps.

[Imp]

Mel: Sponge Bob says thanks!!! But yes indeedy, duct tape works. On our way to our first rally we tangled with a post at a gas station. After creative manoeuvers and the assistance of two truckers we got the post out. We determined that the lights were still working, so we got busy and duct taped everything together. It held till we got home to Texas to get it repaired. We also notified the insurance company and they approved us waiting to get it repaired. We went to Evergreen RV in New Braunfels for the repairs. That was in the first 6 months of full timing. Hang in there, it does get better. We seem to learn by our mistakes.

[Phyllen]

We were told today the shop while the rig is in Hooks, Tx. can not get to it for 3 to 4 MONTHS! We can not be homeless for that long or even stay in the area that long. They will seal it so we can live in it. We pick it up Thursday and head back to NJ. We will take it to the dealer we bought it from. They say 4-6 weeks. That's okay, we will live in it while waiting for the parts to arrive from Indiana.

In the meantime, Len will work a temp job for those weeks. We are thinking we sure could use the money considering the cost of all this.

He is still in the down side. Blaming himself. He says it is more aggravation than anything.

Can't wait to get back to my "home". Phyllis

BTW, if you are traveling I30, I40, I81, I70 or I95 between Texas and the Delaware/NJ border next weekend and see a 2009 Montana held together with chewing gum, duct tape, staples and a prayer being pulled by a 2006 Blue and Gray F250 give us a shoutout!

[HamRad]

Phyllis,
Oh, my! That is a long time! I hope you can get things sorted out soon.

Dennis

[slewis]

If you are able to drive it; why not take a stop in Goshen and have the factory do the fix?
Sandy

[Phyllen]

Called them. They said they would send us to a dealer. Rather come back here and see family and get caught up on a few things. We made it just fine. Got here about 5 hours ago. Taking it to our dealer on Monday for them to check it out.

[Tom S.]

Take heart in the fact that there are two kinds of campers: those who have had an accident, and those who will have an accident. If people didn't have accidents, there wouldn't be insurance companies. The key to the whole thing is to learn from the accident so you don't repeat it.

[RVWheels]

This is a test of the subscription function. Footloose please let me know if you receive a subscription notice via email.

Thank you,
RVWheels